The family of the young boy who is believed to have died after being struck by lightning on a football field in Blackpool earlier this week have posted a heartfelt tribute.
It was revealed during the touching tribute that nine-year-old was an organ donor.
In a post on Facebook, Matt Banks – the father of Jordan Banks, who sadly died on Tuesday following a tragic incident in Blackpool during adverse weather conditions – shared a series of previously-unseen family photos and said his son’s “kindness has meant that three other children may be able to live”.
“He always told us he wanted to be able to help other people if he could so was a donor and has donated which we know will be what he wanted,” Mr Banks added.
Mr Banks went on to describe Jordan as the “most amazing” person with the “biggest heart”.
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“If I ever could have asked for a perfect child, that was Jordan,” he added.
“He always made sure he looked trendy and liked his outfit. His favourite t-shirt was his Cobra Kai top, as he was obsessed with Cobra Kai.”
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“Not only have I lost my little boy, I have lost my little best mate”.
BBC News
It was known that before he died, Jordan – who was a loyal fan of Liverpool FC – was raising money for mental health services in honour of his uncle who took his own life in 2018, and successfully managed to raise a whopping £2,500 in total by running 30 miles in 10 days.
His efforts attracted the attention of his hero, Liverpool footballer James Milner, who sent him a video congratulating him on his “incredible” work, and said: “Just remember you never walk alone, all the boys are behind you… well done bud you should be very proud”.
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Lancashire Police also told of how Jordan left sweets on police cars to help cheer officers up during lockdown earlier this year.
Since news of the tragic incident emerged on Tuesday, a number of poignant tributes have made by members of the local Blackpool community, and messages have been pouring in on social media from all across the UK.
Jordan’s friends have paid tribute with flowers and gifts left at the scene of the incident.
Blackpool Tower was also lit up red and a tweet from the staff at the landmark said: “Yesterday, our community lost one of its brightest lights, so this evening we stand alongside Jordan Banks family, friends and our community to remember a remarkable young man. #LiverpoolFC.”
Tonight, the Blackpool Tower is lit up in red. Yesterday our community lost one of it's brightest lights, so this evening we stand alongside Jordan Banks family, friends and our community to remember a remarkable young man. #LiverpoolFC ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/XoGTV7EYG1
Liverpool FC has made a number of tributes to Jordan on social media, first in an initial tweet on Wednesday which read: “The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool Football Club are with Jordan’s family and friends.
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“Rest in peace, Jordan Banks.”
In a follow-up tribute tweet ahead of the club’s Premier League clash with Manchester United, Liverpool FC said: “You’ll Never Walk Alone, Jordan Banks. Nicknamed ‘mini-Milner’ by his coaches, Jordan was a brilliant person, as well as a passionate footballer.
“We’re all thinking of his loved ones tonight”.
The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool Football Club are with Jordan's family and friends ❤️
Nicknamed ‘mini-Milner’ by his coaches, Jordan was a brilliant person, as well as a passionate footballer. We’re all thinking of his loved ones tonight ❤️
Ahead of Thursday’s match, Liverpool players also wore shirts with “Jordan 7” on the back in tribute to the nine-year-old, and James Milner later dedicated Liverpool’s victory to the youngster.
He tweeted with a series of heart emojis: “A big win for Jordan.”
A GoFundMe page set up for Jordan’s family has already raised nearly £75,000.
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More than £2 million in compensation received by underpaid workers in the North West
Danny Jones
More than £2 million is said to have been dished out in compensation to workers in the North West alone, as the UK government is continuing to crack down on employers underpaying their staff.
Employees from nearly 500 different companies across the region have received the money they owed following a raft of fines in excess of £2.7 million.
Covering the likes of Greater Manchester and beyond, the companies responsible have been revealed by the government as part of the new Fair Work Agency (FWA), which is tasked with shoring up workers’ rights moving forward.
The FWA is part of Labour’s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and hopes not only to correctly reimburse those short-changed but also, with the clear threat of swift action, deter others from trying to do the same in the future.
Matthew Taylor CBE has been appointed Chair of the Fair Work Agency, a new body that will transform how employment rights are enforced across the UK.
How? By tackling exploitation, supporting businesses doing the right thing, and helping to build a fairer labour market. pic.twitter.com/duEeNlwDHr
— Department for Business and Trade (@biztradegovuk) October 14, 2025
Released publicly last Friday, 17 October, 80 companies that failed to properly pay approximately 19,000 workers in and around the North West have now been repaid by their employers.
Perhaps most concerningly is that the fines sweep across multiple sectors and sizes, from local independents and SME to well-known high street brands.
From April 2026 onwards, the updated Employment Rights Bill (which also includes the FWA) grants more powers to tackle employers underpaying workers and failing to fulfil both holiday and sick pay.
This announcement also comes after the National Minimum Wage rate was increased earlier this year, with millions getting a pay rise and those working full-time on the National Living Wage seeing their families supported by an extra £1,400 per year.
Under the ‘Make Work Pay’ initiative set out by the Labour Party, more than 15 million Brits are expected to benefit from the new measures.
Overall, roughly £6 million has been put back into the pockets of underpaid workers up and down the country following these fines, which are said to have totalled roughly £10.2m. The full list of companies in question can be seen HERE.
Speaking on the news, Employment Rights Minister Kate Dearden said: “This government is taking direct action to ensure workers get every penny they’ve earned, and to put an end to bad businesses undercutting good ones.
“We’re proud to have delivered a strong minimum wage, and enforcing it thoroughly is crucial in our mission to put pounds back in your pocket. I know this news will be welcomed by brilliant businesses across the country, those who know that happy, well-paid staff are at the heart of building a successful company.
“With our new Fair Work Agency and the coming Employment Rights Bill, this government is keeping our promise to Britain to make work pay again.”
If you fear you might be suffering from underpayment by your employer, you can check that your wages are correct online; alternatively, you can call the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100 or contact their website for more information right HERE.
342 arrests made in Piccadilly Gardens since start of GMP’s pledge to ‘improve’ public safety
Emily Sergeant
More than 300 people have been arrested in Piccadilly Gardens since the police pledged to ‘improve’ the perception of the area.
A dedicated neighbourhood policing team that was set up by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) back in March to tackle issues and concerns in Piccadilly Gardens, and ultimately improve the public’s sense of safety, has seen a total of 342 arrests since its inception.
The City Centre Piccadilly Gardens neighbourhood policing team – which is led by Chief Inspector Michael Tachauer – works together with partners, including Manchester City Council, to tackle these problems with long-term solutions.
Following the team’s success since it started, GMP will now continue to build on the foundations of its problem-solving approach to address some of the most prevalent issues.
According to police, Piccadilly Gardens has seen ‘real progress’ being made in terms of safeguarding, enforcement, and GMP’s wider understanding of the issues and concerns communities are facing this past year.
342 arrests have been made in Piccadilly Gardens since the start of GMP’s pledge to ‘improve’ public safety / Credit: GMP
Since March, GMP has seen a total of 342 arrests resulting in 279 charges / cautions, 511 stop searches, 37 weapons seized, and large amounts of Class A and Class B drugs seized too.
“We remain committed to improving both the perception of Piccadilly Gardens and the public’s sense of safety in the area,” commented Chief Superintendent David Meeney, who is the City of Manchester District Commander.
“However, this is not something we can achieve alone. We will continue to work closely with our partners and deploy additional police resources whenever intelligence or demand indicates a need for increased presence.
“We also rely heavily on information from our community, from those who work in the area to residents living nearby. Your reports are vital in helping us develop targeted plans that our neighbourhood officers can act on, so please continue to share any concerns or incidents with us.”
Got any concerns about Piccadilly Gardens? You can continue to report those to GMP by calling 101 or online via gmp.uk.com. Always dial 999 in an emergency.
The Manc -
14th May 2021 
